Kentucky Bastard
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.

Kentucky BastardKentucky Bastard
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From:
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #294
ABV:
14.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #6,021
Avg:
4.11 | pDev: 10.22%
Reviews:
64
Ratings:
212
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 05, 2023
Added:
Dec 29, 2012
Wants:
  20
Gots:
  55
Previously: "Old Kentucky Bastard"

Our Bolshevik Bastard kicked up a notch. We age Bolshevik in Kentucky bourbon barrels for over a year. The rich chocolate, coffee and dark fruit flavours from our imperial stout are married together with the vanilla, oak and warming alcohol from bourbon barrels.

Together as one, the result is an incredible blend of aroma and taste.

Drink today, or cellar for years as it matures.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Monkeyknife:
Photo of Monkeyknife
Rated by Monkeyknife from Missouri

4.12/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sep 20, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.81 by groleau from Canada (QC)

Nov 05, 2023
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
My February 2016 review, shown below for posterity, read as though for an entirely different beer than that which I enjoyed at DLD 2023, so I'm deleting that review entirely for this new entry.

This 2019 vintage displayed a polished black with a dense, bubbly tan had that was quite enticing.

Despite the embarrassment of riches around it, dusty oak, spicy whiskey, moderate roast and a dark fruit and nut combination all played well enough together to stand up to the competition here.

---

Holy mother, there is some strong bourbon here!

Really, this is bourbon, with a shot of stout in it.

This is a prime example of exactly why I don't like barrel aged beers. Just too hot, and too overpowering of the base beer.
May 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.33 by CRObighit2 from Canada (ON)

Dec 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.27 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Nov 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.71 by Tmappin from Canada (NS)

Aug 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.14 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 27, 2022
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From the wax dipped bottle in snifter. This decent little imperial pours a
dark blackish brown with a nice head of tan foam that lingers long with a
thick ring and clumping layer as well as nice light lacing. Nose of subtle bourbon,
char, wafting oak, dark cocoa, and subtle cream. Flavors surpass the nose with
dark cocoa, char, brulee, light oak, bourbon, faint brewers licorice, and warming booze.
Nice mouth feel; medium full body, smooth, lightly coating, light carbonation, and a
subtly bitter malt and lightly dry finish.

Overall, a solid little brew

Cheers
Oct 27, 2021
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle date faded and unreadable
Pours a smaller fizzy tan head with lower retention, little lacing, decent legs, jet black color

Nose is spicy, licorice anise like, baking spices, cinnamon, loads of dark chocolate and baker's chocolate, some roast, dark roasted coffee, little vanilla spice and vanilla barrel, touch of dark fruits, little burnt caramel and little fudge and nougat, hint of bourbon

Taste brings more dark chocolate, very dark cocoa and baker's chocolate, more spices with anise, cinnamon, vanilla, touch of dark fruits a bit raisin like, a bit of vanilla barrel and toasted oak but not a lot, same with light sweet bourbon, a touch of alcohol, into more cocoa, nougat, a bit of roasted coffee but not super dark and roasty, mild dry and mild sweet finish, lots more spices lingering, bit of spicy hop bitterness late

Mouth is fuller bod, rich, a little chewy like, lush, med fizzy carb, hint of alcohol

Overall not bad, wish the barrel came through more, but base stout is nice
Oct 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Apr 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by BdM from Netherlands

Feb 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.11 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

Jan 29, 2021
Photo of Easton70
Reviewed by Easton70 from Canada (ON)

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is perhaps one of the best beers I’ve tasted. There’s a perfect balance of sweetness, bitterness and boozy finish that makes this the perfect beer for a cold night at Christmas. It’s a beer for relaxing and thinking.
Jan 08, 2021
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

4.07/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I bought 1 bottle at lcbo in Ontario poured a 1finger head into glass that quickly disappeared and left no lace.
actually looked like a coke 11.9%alc 500ml bottle 70 IBU Kentucky Bastard 2020
taste was rich dark chocolates and dark fruits coffee vanilla then the warming sensation going down as you drink it. nice
nice sweet sugarymalts also
overall a very good imperial stout beer would like to have it again for a special occasion someday .
cheers.
Dec 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by ElGallo from New Hampshire

Nov 27, 2020
 
Rated: 3.95 by Gemini6 from Michigan

Sep 06, 2020
Photo of pathman
Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
07/21/20 bottle @ home
Jul 22, 2020
Photo of janubio
Reviewed by janubio from Spain

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a snifter glass. Black color, beige color, small head with short retention, tiny lacing. Aroma of coffee, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, dried fruits. Medium to full body, creamy texture, good carbonation. Sweet and boozy finish. Taste follows the aroma, with more prune presence. Really good.
Jun 30, 2020
Photo of Mysticmage
Reviewed by Mysticmage from Canada (ON)

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thick motor oil delight. Rich gunpowder grey viscosity greets yer nose and yer mouth. Potent wild taste and finish will curl yer nosehairs. Enjoy and rejoice,
Apr 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Mar 23, 2020
Kentucky Bastard from Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 212 ratings